BUFFALO, N.Y., May 10 (UPI) -- Oleg Saprykin put Ottawa ahead 7:41 into the third period Thursday and the Senators defeated Buffalo 5-2 in the first game of the Eastern Conference finals.
The goal was Saprykin's first of the playoffs and came on a wrist shot that bested Ryan Miller.
Jason Spezza scored on the power play with 4:12 remaining in the game to give Ottawa insurance and Dean McAmmond put one into an empty net with 13 seconds to go.
The third-period domination broke open what had been a typical playoff battle -- one in which 10 penalties were called during the first 40 minutes.
Ottawa's Mike Fisher opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal 4:32 into the first period and the Senators took a 2-0 lead on Daniel Alfredsson's power-play goal three minutes later.
Buffalo drew even on goals by Maxim Afinogenov in the first period and Tony Lydman in the second.
Ray Emery had to make only 18 saves for the Senators. There was no repeat of the brawl that broke out when the teams met on Feb. 24.
Buffalo will host Game 2 Saturday.
